Ben Mbala’s return the UAAP scene wasn’t the one he expected.
The two-time UAAP MVP was in attendance when his alma mater De La Salle bowed out of the UAAP Final Four race, losing to Far Eastern University, 71-70, in a way that can only be described as soul-crushing.
Mbala, however, said that the Green Archers should take the loss in stride and learn from the defeat in order to move forward in the future.
“That’s basketball, that’s part of the game,” said Mbala, who even went into the La Salle dugout at halftime, Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “You can’t just learn by winning, you also learn by losing as well.”
Mbala is in the Philippines for vacation after his stint Seoul Samsung Thunders in the Korean Basketball League where he averaged 23.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 13 games.
The one-time UAAP champion added that he’s willing to play in the PBA if an opportunity arises.
Mbala was almost tapped to be an emergency import for Magnolia in the Governors’ Cup after Romeo Travis suffered a hamstring injury during the Hotshots’ semifinals series against Barangay Ginebra.
“I love the Philippines. Of course, I want to become an import,” said Mbala, who will travel to Cameroon to perform his duties as national team player. “That’s not even a question.”